Stanley Parker House Letchworth

The house was in a very exposed situation, so that much of the wall was built with greater thickness than is usual in a house of this character. It was of brick covered with thick cement, roughcast, whitewashed with Russian tallow mixed in the whitewash to render it more damp resisting lane  and durable.  The window frames were cast in concrete, reinforced, and whitewashed as are the walls. This method of construction eliminates the risk (in-separable from wooden window frames) "o^se near  or their proving not to be water tight.  Owing to the inevitable shrinking of the wood the joints open between the window frames and walling, and this is an important consideration when building in an exposed situation. An additional  advantage that  these concrete window  frames have over any wooden ones is that the cost of repairs and  upkeep is reduced to a minimum; no constantly recurring pointing  and "making good" being necessary, and the original expense or  painting being doing away with. The exposed position is also partly responsible for all the casements being in iron. Iron casements are far the most water- and wind-tight form of window known, and they rattle far less than any other. Of all parts of windows the sash is the most liable to defects arising from shrinking, warping and decaying wood, because it is built up of a greater number of comparatively thin and small timbers than any other; it is therefore more costly in repairs, upkeep and painting; it also rattles more than any other, and gives trouble from jamming and getting out of order.  [The Craftsman page 180-187] 

Reference    The Craftsman  Volume XX  Number 2, May 1911 pages 179-191. Barry Parker Modern country homes in England: number thirteen
Illustration    Stanley Parker house: Ground floor; Bedroom plan, 179:
Illustration    Stanley Parker house : South and west elevation; North elevation p181
Illustration    Stanley Parker Letchworth: View from studio into living room, p182
Illustration    Stanley Parker Letchworth Living room p182;
Illustration    Stanley Parker Letchworth living room giving glimpse of stairway and fireplace
Illustration    Stanley Parker Letchworth View into the studio from living room, p183